7 Things You Can Do for Israel Today

Help by taking an action from this list, and by sharing it with family, friends and colleagues

October 9, 2015 11:51 AM

Once again, Jewish people in Israel are under terrorist attack. Innocent men, women and children have been killed, and many more have been injured across the country. Some of the victims were visiting the Western Wall to pray; some were driving their kids; others were simply heading off to work. One child was riding his bicycle.

In this critical time, we all ask:

What can I do for Israel? How can I help my brothers and sisters in the Holy Land?

Obviously, Israel’s government, army and police are striving to do all in their power to protect the nation’s citizens. But there is much we can do as well, no matter how distant we are geographically.

The Torah teaches us (and history has repeatedly demonstrated to us) that the physical protection of each one of us — and, indeed, our very collective destiny! — is intrinsically connected to our spiritual activism.

When we pray or dedicate a good deed to our brothers and sisters in Israel, we create a spiritual defense shield for them that will help them through difficult and dangerous times.

In that vein, we’ve gathered some of the directives that the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory, shared with the Jewish people worldwide during similar events; positive action we can each take for Israel and its people.

Here goes:

1. Take Up a “Call to Arms”

What it is: Before the outbreak of the 1967 war, the Rebbe prompted a literal “call to arms” to encourage Jewish males to don the holy heart-and-mind connectors known as tefillin, whose spiritual potency is foretold in the Talmud to help instill fear and deterrence in the enemy.

What to do: Help every Jewish man and boy over the age of 13 to put on tefillin today, and every weekday.

3. Check Your (Spiritual) Security System

What it is: Called the “guard” of the Jewish home and the guardian of the Jewish people throughout the ages, the mezuzah is a parchment scroll containing sacred portions of the Torah that is hung on the right side of the doorpost to a Jewish home. They are also affixed on most doorposts within the home.

What to do: Do you have mezuzahs on and in your home? This is a good time have them checked to make sure they are still in tiptop shape. (It is best to check your mezuzahs annually, and at least twice every seven years.) If you don’t have mezuzahs, or are missing on some doors, now is the time to get up to snuff.

4. Pray

What it is: The power of prayer. Our ability to reach the gates of heaven and plead with the Almighty to make things better.

What to do: Dedicate a daily prayer for our brethren in Israel. Psalms are especially appropriate for times like this. But feel free to go off-script and speak to G‑d directly in your own words, too. While praying, keep in mind those who were injured in the attacks, in addition to all of Israel. The prayer of children is considered to be particularly potent.

6. Nurture Your Faith

What it is: What kept us going for thousands of years. Amid all crises, the faith and knowledge that G‑d is with us and protects us.

What you can do: Reach into yourself to find your innate faith. Learn about it. Speak to your family and friends about it. Gather them around your dining room table at home or the water cooler at work, and speak about our faith in G‑d and His bond with every one of us. Engender confident trust that He will guard us, and especially in His holy land.

Reach out to friends and family in Israel, or even to strangers on Facebook. Tell them that you are one with them, about the mitzvahs you’re doing in their honor, and that you are sure that they will prevail.

Links: This year — known as a Hakhel year — is especially appropriate for such gatherings of Torah, unity, and faith. Watch the Rebbe explain the immediate relevance of Hakhel to our times, and watch the Rebbe explaining the strategic importance of faith.

7. Join the Unity Torah Scroll

What it is: The Torah is the common denominator that unites all Jewish people. Special Torah scrolls are being written in Israel, in which every single Jewish person may purchase a letter to become part of the Torah and unite together. Besides for fulfilling (at least in part) the Biblical commandment to write a Torah scroll, having a letter in these scrolls connects you and Jewish people all over the globe, in Israel and the diaspora, into one Torah-created unified entity.

What you can do: Purchase letters for yourself and your family members, and encourage others to do the same.

Living in Israel
My husband and I live in. Israel. We left Arizona USA and have been here in Israel since 2014 of August. People here where we are in Northern Israel are friendly and helpful more than the USA. We have all my husbands family here.
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Deborah ShannonSchoolcraft, MichiganJuly 25, 2016

May G-d bless His people Israel. May He keep you in His peace and surround you with His protection. My prayers are with you.Reply

LilaOhio,USANovember 9, 2015

G-D bless israel
May G-D bless Israel and her people. Allow peace and safety come to Israel and the Jewish people throughout the world. May spiritual protection be with Israel and the IDF in their mission to protect the holy land. G-D bless you all!
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AnonymousLondon'October 29, 2015

G d will always know the answer. Have faith and pray for peace. We are all one mankindSo be kind to each other
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Love london's Jews October 29, 2015

I believe that Hashem is mine and our God and He will porform what we daven for. All Jews, lets daven and make our religion stand out! Come on Israel!
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Shalom Joy SilvaPhilippinesOctober 26, 2015

I always pray for the goodness and peace in Israel. I believe that there is no other gods other than in Israel. My family supports Israel. Jewish people are good and kind. May the Holy One, blessed is He, grants you peace oh Jewish people. From Philippines
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My house stands with hashem! Ma6 he bless and keep all of Isreal.
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Melvyn BloomCranford NJvia m.chabadcares.comOctober 22, 2015

How to feel and be proud of being a jew
I am 64 years old and have not been observant for most of my lifeAfter a reaction to antisemitiam I couldn't stand it anymore I contacted Shalom about 10 years agoSince then I have been putting my teffiliin often and in the last years every day and pray once a day Shemah and shemonah esrey each day before going to workI also go to the shul every ShabbatI enjoyed vacationing twice this year in IsraelI do not hide my faith at work, a German company. On the contraryI want to share that I am not yet there but doing these few actions make me happy and proud to belong to our peopleMelvyn
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GaryEuropeJuly 24, 2017

in response to Melvyn Bloom:

Melvyn, Nice post. Anti-Semitism causes many Jews to return to the fold. You are not alone
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AnonymousOctober 22, 2015

Thoughts and best wishes from America. Love Israel and wish I was could fight for Israel and was Jewish. God bless you Israel.
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Loving you and The Holy Land
I love the Holy Land I Believe I Pray for your safety
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smbOctober 21, 2015

Main thing is emunah(faith) in Hashem, notice and appreciate the blessings in our life and the miracles. Even though times are difficult, Hashem is with us. We should continue to stand with each other and Hashem. Spiritual growth is very important so we are ready for the redemption.
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Esther Sarah Evans91240 Jerusalem, ISRAELOctober 20, 2015

b"H Shabbos
b"H Lighting Shabbos candles is great, but if we want to achieve peace, real peace here in Israel without any violence, we have to keep Shabbos as well as we can according to Halakha, the Orthodox way. It may sound like work, but no more than a multifaceted recipe for terrific meals and other elements of Oneg Shabbos, that will leave you wondering why you waited so lon to do this, and isn't it far better than dying ?
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May G-d Almighty suppresses all those devil people or reduces their will and strength to kill others without any self-defense in Israel. May G-d Almighty take into account such bad events all over the world, such as in Burundi, East, and central Africa, with such punishment. We are one.
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malkaOctober 19, 2015

Our prayers and charity and unity make a big impact. Let's continue on the inspiration with learning and growing more, step by step.
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daniellemontreal, quebecvia themtc.comOctober 19, 2015

special times
To all my brothers and sisters I am posting this ,you will understand why? when you read it.we are one!
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carole castleFredericksburg, VA. usaOctober 18, 2015

prayers for strength.
May the almighty Father grant solace to all victims i pray. May the almighty send strength and endurance to all who fight, and all who pray for the people of Israel as the struggle continues. My heart goes out to all the fine people there, and i pray for them each day...Lord, hear our prayer. Carole.
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